DOHA/NEW DELHI: The lack of an aggressive effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and financial support for developing countries at Doha notwithstanding India has cause not to be dissatisfied with its performance at the recently concluded negotiations.

Issues like intellectual property rights, equity and unilateral measures have found some place in the final package of outcomes or the Doha Climate Gateway. Though the references in the final outcome to these issues are "weak", India is satisfied that these key issues have made it back to the table.

"India managed to retrieve ground it had lost in Copenhagen and Durban. The final outcome takes into account issues like intellectual property rights in technology transfer and development, equity and unilateral measures. It doesn't matter that the language in the test is weak, what matters is that the issues will figure in the negotiations," an Indian negotiator explained.

In its statement at the closing plenary of the Doha round, New Delhi gave ample indication that it would continue to push for a broader treatment on these important issues. New Delhi would also indicated that it would make sure that these issues will be key elements of future negotiations.

Accepting the "package of outcomes" or Doha Climate Gateway, India's lead negotiator Mira Mehrishi said, "Mr President, you have presented us a package. We are not happy with all parts. Some are extremely problematic for us. Many of our issues have not been addressed...The unilateral measures have been dealt with almost as an after-thought. And, there is a weak reference to technology-related IPR issues... We are aware of all these challenges. Mr. President, we therefore accept the entire package of outcomes as the basis for our future work, provided the entire package is treated as a composite package and is not violated either in spirit or letter."

India managed to include an indirect reference to intellectual property rights (IPR). Industrialized countries, such as United States, Canada, New Zealand and European Union, had argued that the United Nations' climate convention was the right forum for the discussion on IPR. Citing decisions of earlier rounds of negotiations, India succeeded in introducing the concept of "enabling environments for and barriers to technology development and transfer". Indian negotiator dealing with technology at Doha, TS Tirumurthi, maintained "the decisions at Marakkesh, Bali and the Cancun rounds supported the inclusion of a discussion on enablers and barriers to technology transfer. India was supported by the Philippines, China and Argentina in its effort.

"While the references to IPR is not direct, bringing this matter into the climate change discourse is an important first step in the right direction," Tirumurthi explained.

Through the negotiations at Doha, New Delhi pushed for explicit references to equity. It efforts have had some impact, with the US Special Envoy Todd Stern making a reference in his speech at the ministerial segment. "Stern's acknowledgement of ambition and equity are particularly important-- as these must be at the core of any future climate agreement. This shift provides an opening for a meaningful dialogue on equity that should be grasped by other countries," said Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute.

India made it clear that it would push for equity as the core of any climate change regime. "That our work will be anchored in the principles of the Convention was a clear understanding when we agreed to the Durban Platform. 'Under the Convention' - this phrase was coined to give comfort to all parties who did not want an explicit reference to equity ... It will be unfortunate if some of us go back on our understanding and promise...Equity is not opposed to ambition. It is in fact the gateway to ambition," Mehrishi said in her closing statement.